Probe, particularly for locating trapped victims, as well as a search system for trapped victims

ABSTRACT

A probe, particularly for locating trapped victims in avalanches, includes a receiver tuned to the transmitting frequency of transmitting units and with at least one antenna. The receiver is provided with a circuit for level evaluation of the received signals whereby the circuit indicates any surpassing of the signal level while approaching the vicinity of the transmitting unit to make probing easier for the rescuer, to reduce the time needed for this purpose, and to offer significant assistance in the interpretation of different objects detected by means of the probe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a probe, particularly for locating trapped victims in avalanches, for example, having a receiver tuned to the transmitting frequency of transmitting units and having at least one antenna. The invention relates also to a search system for trapped victims comprising at least one transmitting unit and a probe of the aforementioned type.

2. The Prior Art

The search for trapped victims, particularly in avalanches, has been considerably improved in recent years through the employment of modern locating devices for avalanche victims. All such devices are based on the European standards EN 300718, which describe in standard terms the transmitted signals in addition to the basic product requirements.

The total rescue time (time of accident until time of successful rescue of the trapped victim) essentially extends over the time of locating (search after initial notification, general search, particular search and point locating), over the time of probing (determination of the most possible position of the trapped victim by means of a probe to be carried by the person), and over the time needed to free the victim by means of a shovel. A shovel and probe are currently components of the recommended—and practically required—emergency equipment. While the necessary locating time has been continually improved through modern search devices, the time necessary for shoveling and freeing of the trapped victim cannot be considerably influenced. This time depends essentially on the depth of debris, snow characteristic (compactness), suitability of the shovels, as well as the physical condition of the rescuer(s).

However, not much time has to be used basically for probing, which means, for confirmation of findings and the best possible determination of position and buried depth of the victim. This determination becomes difficult depending on the slope angle and the condition of the snow as well as the buried depth and it must be performed systematically. Often times, rescuer just “poke around” without coordination because of the stressful situation and valuable time is wasted.

Devices with a plurality of antennas arranged at right angles to one another have been developed to make locating easier for the rescuers in stressful situations—even without training. The incoming direction of the transmitted signal can be determined by switching from one antenna to the others. In general, all avalanche victim location devices must meet the European standards EN 300718. Such a device is exemplary described in AT 6120 U2. In addition, avalanche victim location systems have been proposed in the past which use a probe as disclosed in EP 1163933 B1. A receiver is therein attached to the upper end of the avalanche probe, possibly detachable, so that it can also be employed separately from the probe. A galvanic insulated antenna is fastened at the lower free end of the probe whereby its signal is transmitted through a high frequency line leading to the receiver extending inside or outside of the probe. However, this solution is neither suitable nor can it be realized mechanically to be meaningful.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a probe and a victim locating device that makes probing easier for the rescuer, reducing the time needed for this purpose, and which offers significant assistance in the interpretation of different objects detected by means of the probe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For the achievement of this object, the probe is characterized according to the invention in that the receiver is provided with a circuit for level evaluation of the received signals whereby said circuit indicates any surpassing of the signal level while approaching the vicinity of the transmitting unit. The probe is thereby able to receive signals in the vicinity of the transmitter carried on the trapped victim and to indicate such an event as a hit. Errors in interpretation of objects detected with the probe can be mostly eliminated thereby.

It is advantageously proposed thereby that the level evaluation circuit can be set at least for two different sensitivity values. The receiving areas can be changed thereby in several steps and the probing accuracy can be increased more and more until the probe tip is in the immediate vicinity of the transmitter carried on the trapped victim during an indicated find. The rescuer obtains information through identification of different receiving areas which indicates how far he is away in approximate measurements from the actual target, which means the trapped victim.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the receiver is integrated with one or each antenna within the probe tip to avoid an analog high frequency transmission over the length of the probe which would be difficult to realize. Processing of signals occurs already in the immediate vicinity of the antenna(s) and only a digital signal will have to be transmitted for the indication of a hit.

One embodiment of the invention is optimal for identification by the rescuer and it applies also to the simple and reliable signal transmission whereby an optical or acoustical indicator is provided on the probe tip and whereby data transmission is provided through physical lines between the receiver and the indicator.

The line for data transmission is thereby formed advantageously by the tensioning cable of the probe.

According to an additional embodiment of the invention, the probe is characterized in that a transmitting unit is integrated in the probe emitting signals with greatly limited range. The transmission of this so-called covering signal (Decksignal) is initiated preferably by means of a manual actuation device. Transmitters especially designed for this purpose (avalanche victim locating devices or LVS devices) can be temporarily turned off as long as another probe disposed in the immediate vicinity is transmitting this covering signal so that other rescuers are not distracted in their search for other trapped victims. The transmitter is again activated upon extraction or by removal of the probe by other means or by manually turning off the covering signal.

It is preferably proposed that the range of the transmitter signal corresponds essentially to the area near the transmitting unit as indicated by the level evaluation circuit.

Optimal use of the existing components and the smallest structural dimensions can be achieved if the transmitter and the receiver are combined and both are using at least one antenna of the probe.

For the achievement of the aforementioned object there is provided a search system for trapped victims characterized according to the invention in that the transmitter is provided with a receiving circuit for the signal emitting from the probe having a greatly limited range and whereby said receiving circuit can temporarily turn the transmitter off during reception of said signal. The problem involving multiple trapped victims is eliminated through such a system whereby the transmitter of a detected victim, who was found by probing, does no longer distract other rescuers.

Additional aspects of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

The FIGURE schematically depicts a probe according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The FIGURE shows an embodiment of the probe S of the invention comprising electronics 1 installed in the lower probe tip. The electronics include the receiver for signals emitting from traditional transmitting devices (avalanche victim locating devices) which are carried along by skiers, hikers, mountain climbers, etc. The receiving unit includes again one to two antennas, preferably oriented orthogonal to one another, a receiving circuit, and also a level evaluation circuit for the incoming signal. The distance from the probe tip to the transmitting unit can be determined from the level of the received signal based on the standardized transmitting level of the transmitting unit.

Several threshold values for the receiving level are set in the electronics 1, which can be switched from one to the other so that switching between different ranges can occur in this manner. The electronics 1 can thereby determine whether the probe tip is located in the vicinity of a transmitting unit whereby this area can be defined in different ways. The rescuer obtains thereby significant assistance in the interpretation of different objects “detected” by means of the probe. Especially, inexperienced rescuers can reliably differentiate between presumed victims and actually trapped victims. The rescuer also obtains information about the distance to the actual target by identifying different receiving areas.

A digital signal is transmitted to an optical display device and/or an acoustic indicator 3 at the upper end of the probe S when a transmitted signal is received in the vicinity of the probe tip whereby said signal is transmitted through a line, preferably the tensioning cable 2 of the assembled probe consisting of a plurality of components arranged one behind the other. The electronics 1 and the indicator 3 may emit different signals depending on the set distance or the determined distance from the transmitter.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention proposes further that the electronics 1 comprise additionally a transmitter emitting a low level radio signal, a so-called covering signal. The transmitter uses preferably one antenna or several antennas of the receiving unit and the transmitter can be turned on and off, preferably manually. This covering signal can interpret transmitting units prepared especially for this purpose and it can be adjusted in such a manner that the transmitters can be temporarily turned off as long as the probe sends these covering signals in the immediate vicinity. The transmitting unit is again activated during the extraction of the probe and/or after turning off the covering signal. 

1. A probe, particularly for locating trapped victims in avalanches, for example, having a receiver tuned to the transmitting frequency of transmitting units and having at least one antenna, characterized in that the receiver is provided with a circuit for level evaluation of the received signals whereby said circuit indicates any surpassing of the signal level while approaching the vicinity of the transmitting unit.
 2. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the level evaluation circuit can be set at least for two different sensitivity values.
 3. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is integrated with one or each antenna within the probe tip.
 4. A probe according to claim 3, wherein an optical or acoustical indicator is provided on the probe tip and whereby data transmission is provided through physical lines between the receiver and the indicator.
 5. A probe according to claim 4, wherein the line for data transmission is formed by the tensioning cable of the probe.
 6. A probe according to claim 1, wherein a transmitting unit is integrated in the probe emitting signals with greatly limited range.
 7. A probe according to claim 6, wherein the range of the transmitter signal corresponds essentially to the area near the transmitting unit as indicated by the level evaluation circuit.
 8. A probe according to claim 6, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are combined and both are using at least one antenna of the probe.
 9. A search system for trapped victims comprising at least one transmitting unit and a probe according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting unit is provided with a receiving circuit for the signal emitting from the probe having a greatly limited range and whereby said receiving circuit can temporarily turn the transmitter off during reception of said signal. 